Telemedicine News & Updates 12-13-2017

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Posted By: Annmarie Budniak December 13, 2017

Stay up to date on the latest and join the conversation with #Telehealth and #Telemedicine.

Slow and Steady – CMS Expands Telehealth Reimbursement Opportunities in 2018
According to McDermott Will & Emery, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reiterated its commitments to expanding access to telehealth services and paying “appropriately” for services that maximize technology in the Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2018; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Final Rule published on November 15, 2017 (the Final Rule). Among many other developments, the Final Rule expands allowable telehealth reimbursement under the calendar year (CY) 2018 Physician Fee Schedule, List of Medicare Telehealth Services and permits virtual sessions in certain circumstances under the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Expanded Model (MDPP, or the Program). The regulations are effective January 1, 2018.

TripleCare Expands Relationship with Saber Healthcare Group
TripleCare (@triple_care), a national provider of telemedicine-based healthcare services to skilled nursing facilities, announced that the Company has expanded its relationship with Saber Healthcare Group®, owner and operator of 105 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, with more than 10,000 licensed beds across six states. TripleCare is in the process of introducing its virtual telemedicine-based services to additional Saber facilities throughout Virginia, which is expected to be completed by year-end 2017. This marks the Company’s entry into Virginia.

NewYork-Presbyterian and Walgreens Collaborate To Bring World-Class Care Through Telemedicine
NewYork-Presbyterian (@nyphospital) and Walgreens (@Walgreens) are collaborating to bring convenient access to NewYork-Presbyterian’s world-class care through new telemedicine services, now available through Walgreens digital properties and at self-service kiosks at select Duane Reade drugstores in New York. NewYork-Presbyterian, New York’s No. 1 hospital, is offering the telemedicine services as part of its NYP OnDemand suite of digital health services.

Avizia Becomes Nation’s First Telehealth Provider to Earn URAC’s Telehealth Accreditation
For Avizia (@Aviziahealth) Chief Executive Officer Mike Baird, becoming the first telehealth provider to achieve URAC telehealth accreditation is about more than demonstrating his organization’s commitment to delivering the highest level of quality. It’s also about promoting the entire concept of telehealth in the minds of patients and providers. Baird and his Avizia team will use URAC accreditation as a “showcase for providers in the marketplace,” he told The URAC Report.

Nemours uses telemedicine technology to bring kids face-to-face with Santa
Not everyone can make it for a trip to the mall to see Santa Claus with their Christmas wish list which is why children at Nemours Children’s Hospital brought the jolly bearded giant to them–virtually. On Friday, one of Santa’s elves accompanied with a Nemours telemedicine service device, a tablet on a mobile cart, made visits to sick children at hospitals in Florida and Delware. Santa appeared on the tablet in real time speaking to each surprised child.

A portable digital microscope being showcased at Maker Mela 2018
Maker Mela, a premier event for grassroot innovations in India, is a platform for like-minded people who bring life to diverse range of raw, unique and unconventional ideas. Maker Mela provides a platform for entrepreneurs to connect with other entrepreneurs, advisers, mentors, guides and incubators. One such innovative and interesting project which will be presented at the third edition of Maker Mela, 2018 is the making of Portable digital microscope named Cilika. Designed for portability and stability, this microscope has all the features and functionality of conventional microscopes and can be carried to sites easily. It can help enable remote diagnosis in which digital images can be transferred from rural areas to cities, which can then be assessed by a technician.

Telemedicine startup scores $3M in funding
According to the South Florida Business Journal, telehealth services provider EpicMD (@epicmdapp) has raised $3 million in a Series A fundraising round led by a local private equity firm. EpicMD has developed a HIPAA-compliant online video-chat platform that enables physicians and patients to connect and more conveniently address non-emergency conditions. Patients have the option of signing up for a monthly subscription for $29.99 to gain access to the platform

Upcoming Events:

ATA 2018 Annual Conference & Tradeshow
What: ATA 2018 Annual Conference & Tradeshow
When: April 29 – May 1, 2018
Where: Chicago, IL
Event Hashtag: #ATA18

CMS Covered Telehealth Services
You can download the list of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth on the CMS website.